Massaging table



Feb. 17, 1942. G. BYERS MASSAGING TABLE Filed Jan. 5, '1940 -AA I; an\ k i aw INVENTQR. 650 912. fivanas I I ATTORNEY- Patented Feb. 17, 1942 UNITED- STATES P TENT OFFICE 4' Claims.

My invention relates to a. massaging. table and has for its principal objects, to generally.- improve upon: and. simplify the construction of the existingformsofmassaging and adjusting tables and toprovide a relatively simple, practical and highly effective table whereby rhythmic stretching movement may be conveniently applied to the body and particularly the spine, back, legs and hips, and which. stretching movements and the alternate relaxation of the body impartsgentle exercise and massaging action in the general treatment of various ailments or irregularities of: the spine, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and

other portionsof the body.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, my. inventionv consists in. certain novel features of. construction and; arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more. fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is aside elevationaLview with partsin section of my improved-massaging table.

Fig. 2 is, a plan view. of the. table with partsbroken. away and in section.

Fig. 3v isa crosssectiontaken onthe line 33 ofjFi Referring by numerals to theaccompanyingdrawing; which illustrates a preferred embodimentof my. invention, H1 designates a flat table top. supported by legs H and which tabletop supports the motor and other operating parts of the; massaging table.

Connected by a.suitable hinge. l2; tothe front endijof the table top lilis a fiatpanel I3; preferably formed of wood or pressed sheet metal, and whichisof sumcient length andlwidth to receive and support the body of the user. of the app ratus.

Removably positioned on the main body. portion ofthe panel I3. is. apad or cushion M for the; body of the patient. and: arranged on the outer end portion of the panelis apad or cushion i5 .for the head of the user.

Suitably securedlto the under side of: the-panel i 3 are. the upper ends of. depending threaded rods it upon the lowerportions of which are mounted manually operable nuts I I and the latter'being held for rotation in suitable housings 18 that'are' secured to the fioor.

The construction justdescribed. enables that portion of the table opposite the end that is hinged to the table Ill-:to .be adjustedso as to occupy difierent inclined positions. that .may vary in. accordance with the. treatment. given. by. the apparatus:v

Suitably secured to thesides of the table l3'adjacent the end that supported by the adjustable members iii are longitudinally disposed angle bars I9 and formed in the horizontal flanges thereof adjacent the end of the table l3 are longitudinally disposed slots 20. overlying the slotted portions of the angl'ebars l9 are the ends of a transverse bar 21 and passing therethrough and through the slots 20inthe'bars. I9 are bolts 22, on the lower ends of which are mounted nuts 2-3 and which arrangement enables the transverse bar 21 to be adjusted-length.- wise upon theslottedz ends of the bars Ill-and to be clamped'to said bars after such adjustment;

Formed in transverse-bar'zilare short longitudinally disposed slots 24 through which pass bolts 2'5 and said bolts also pass through brackets. 26 that are loosely. mounted on top; of the'cross bar Zli and which brackets: carry upstanding: head rests. orpads. 2-.1'. Therbolts 2 55. operating; in the slotsi l enable the head rests to besadjusted toward and away from: each other: in' order to-comfortably support" the patients head and the tightening of the bolts-secures the. head rests in position after adjustment;

Formed inthe horizontal flanges OfJthet angle:

bars [9 adjacent theends opposite: the ends in whichthe slots .Zil. are formedare slots ZBthrough which-pass bolts 29- and the latter also'passingt through plates 301 that are mounted for: sliding movement on top of the bars 19 and: each barcarrying anupstanding.paddedxbrackett'l; which latterrprovide-supports: for the BlbOWSIOf r the user of thetable.

Mounted on the:.rear. portion:.oftabl'e IB is. an electric motor 32withwhich is associated a re.- duction gear box 33. and: projecting; from. the; latter is one end of a horizontally disposed shaft 34. Mounted on theiproj'ecting end'.of'this shaft is a, crank arm .35Fprovidedwith a longitudinally disposed slot 35 iniwhichis; adjustably 'mounted a wrist pin.3.1 and upon'which is'journalled. one end of a1 pitman 38;

Secured on. table ifiin front' of the motor are pairs. of aligned bearings 39-andmounted fOIYIIB ciprocatory movement in said bearings are: paralled rods-M2. securedtoithe.intermediate' portions of the'rods 40 are the lower. ends of: upright framesll and connectingthe intermediate portions of said frames is across rail 62. Pitman 38isjournalledto theintermediate portion of: crossrail-M' and thus as shaft 34 is rotated,,reciprocatory movement. will be: imparted" to; the frames 41 and..to:the; rods;40..

Secured to; thezinnergsidez faces of. the. upright frames 4| above and below the cross bar 42 are brackets 43 and passing through each bracket is a horizontally disposed rod 44. Set screws 45 are seated in the brackets 43 and when tightened, these set screws clamp the rods 44 to said brackets.

Carried by the forward ends of each pair of rods 44 are vertically disposed panels 46 provided on their front faces with pads 41, thereby providing cushioned rests for the feet of the user of the table.

Secured to the sides of each panel 46 are short horizontally disposed straps 481 and connected to the free ends of these straps are straps 49 adapted to pass around the legs of the user just above the ankle bones.

In the use of my improved massaging table, the patient lies recumbent on the table I3 which latter may be adjusted to the desired inclination by manipulation of the nuts [1 on the supports I6 with the head resting on the cushioned supports 21, the elbows bearing against the cushioned brackets 3| and with the feet connected to the cushioning panels 45 by the straps 48 and 49.

The motor is now started and through crank arm and pitman 38 reciprocatory movement will be imparted to the frames 4! and rods 40 that operate in the bearings 39.

The rods 44 that carry the foot panels 46 are clamped to the frames 4| by the set screws and thus as the frames 4| reciprocate, the body and legs of the patient will be intermittently stretched and between the stretching movements the body will relax and which movements impart mild exercise and massaging action to the entire body and particularly to the limbs, back and spine.

For best results the speed of the motor should be such as to impart fifty strokes per minute to the reciprocatin frames that carry the foot pads and the length of stroke of the reciprocating parts may be anywhere from two to four inches.

For ordinary body massage and exercise, the

supports I6 should be adjusted so that the end of the table occupied by the head of the patient is approximately six inches lower than the end that is hinged to table Ii] and thus, when pulling strains are exerted upon the body the weight of the latter is sufficient to yieldingly resist the proper amountof stretch imparted to the legs,

much as the entire spine is alternately stretched I and then permitted to relax and contract, which action intermittently releases the pressure upon the cartilages and then compresses the same with a very beneficial massaging action.

' The alternate stretching and relaxation of the spinal area brings about an increased supply of blood to the perichondrium, the fibrous membrane that surrounds the cartilages, and it is from the vessels of this membrane that the cartilages receive their nutritive fluid. This increased blood circulation and supply renders the cartilages more healthy and resilient and materially assists the same to perform their normal functions.

The intermittent stretching of the body tends to relieve nerve pressure upon the spine, thus bringing about increased nerve energy to the various organs of the body, and the movement of the body backward and forward upon the gluteus muscles produces a gentle massage to the sciatic nerve, tending to relieve congestion and ma- 2,273,088 terially increasing blood circulation through the adjacent muscles and tissues.

During treatment, the position of the patients body with the head lower than the feet, combined with the reciprocating movements, tends to relieve the downward pressure of the organs Within the abdomen so as to enable the same to assume their normal positions and consequently permitting normal functions of said organs.

Such reciprocating movement gently massages the intestines, liver, kidneys, and gall bladder, which tends to relieve congestion and aids materially in elimination from the bowels and kidneys. The blood pressure of the lower extremeties is materially lessened and the circulation of blood is materially increased throughout the upper portion of the body, the neck, the head.

The padded foot supporting members 46 are independently adjustable for the accommodation of patients having legs of different lengths, that is, one leg shorter than the other.

It is to be understood that the head rests 21 and elbow rests 3| are not essential to the successful operation of the table and, therefore, said parts may be eliminated in the majority of treatments and used only in special cases.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a massaging table that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my'improved massaging table, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a massaging table, a support, a one piece body supporting table positioned in front of and hinged to said support so as to swing bodily on a horizontal axis, the tops of said table and support occupying substantially the same horizontal plane, means for raisin the other end of the table so as to vary the inclination thereof, pairs of aligned bearings on said support, rods arranged for sliding movement in said bearings, an upright frame secured to said rods, a motor mounted on said support, driving connections between said motor and said upright frame, brackets on said upright frame, rods adjustably seated in said brackets, means for clamping said rods to said brackets in differently adjusted positions, foot supports carried by the forward ends of said rods and means carried by said foot supports for engaging the ankles of the occupant of the table.

- 2. In a body stretching and massaging apparatus, a table, rails mounted on the sides of said table at one end thereof, said rails being provided with slots, plates adjustably positioned on said rails above the slots therein, means passing through said plates and through the slots in said rails for clamping said plates to said rails in differently adjusted positions and elbow rests secured in said adjustable plates.

3. In a body stretching and massaging apparatus, a table, rails mounted on the sides of said table at one end thereof, said rails being provided in their end portions adjacent the end of-the table with longitudinally disposed slots, a bar extending across the table with its ends bearing on the slotted portions of said rails, means passing through the ends of said bar and the slots in the rails for clamping said bar to said rails in difierently adjusted positions and head rests adjustably mounted on said cross bar.

4. In a massaging table, a support, a one piece body supporting table positioned in front of and hinged to said support so as to swing bodily on a horizontal axis, the tops of said table and support occupying substantially the same horizontal plane, means for raising the other end of the table so as to vary the inclination thereof, rails mounted on the sides of said table at one end thereof, said rails being provided with slots, plates adjustably positioned on said rails above the slots therein, means passing through said 15 v said support, rods arranged for sliding movement in said bearings, an upright frame secured to said rods, a motor mounted on said support, driving connections between said motor and said upright frame, rods adjustably seated in said brackets, means for clamping said rods to said brackets in difierently adjusted positions, foot supports carried by the forward ends of said rods and means carried by said foot supports for engaging the ankles of the occupant of the table.

GEORGE BYERS. 

